On the center of the Brauer algebra. (Q1946636)

In this paper the author studies the center of the Brauer algebra using the determination of conjugacy classes in an earlier paper. In the case of finite groups, conjugacy class sums determine the center of the group algebra. In the case of the Brauer algebra the corresponding class sums only yield a basis of the centralizer of the symmetric group in the Brauer algebra. However, the author exhibits an explicit algorithm to determine conditions for a centralizer element to be central and shows how to compute a basis for the center using these methods. This result is then applied to compute blocks of Brauer algebras over fields of arbitrary characteristic. Finally, the author also shows that similar methods can be applied for computing a basis of the center of the walled Brauer algebra.